Reminiscent of Hong Kong..

I am getting lost in city by city nowadays.. (What a perfect life, huh?)
And it looks like there are places, some better than the other,( but let’s not speculate;), where You can have it all. Of course no perfect paradise exists, some of the contenders to the title have this magic aura.. Not the sort of aura, You think surrounds You when:
a) Tipsy, b) in love. (underline applicable.)
As much as I love London for its convenience, English summer 2008, which has never actually happened, has downgraded this fabulous city in an unofficial race for the Capital of my World title. Whatever tickles your fancy though, is to be found there.
Music fan’s promise land. Whether it’s about live gigs of Uncle Duncan’s friend’s dad’s son’s garage band, or 50000 strong, packed, world-class events, records from three decades ago on a format of a 12 inch from a second or even third-hand shop lost somewhere in Camden Town’s dusty cupboards, reagge, jazz, classical, bhangra, italodisco or cantopop. All have their home here. (Shouldn’t the latter ones be actually banned in public places?)
Shopping for latest, how utterly different, handbags with checked design from Burberry or waterproof traveller bags, space invaders hand consoles and latest mobile handsets for several thousand pounds, feel free to browse through virtually every pointless piece of rubbish ever made. As well as all the highly sophisticated devices of similar, pointless nature.
Batmobile ridden movie pre-premiers, good, old Mary F**kin’ Poppins, galleries, streetart, artists, pseudoartists, happenings, protests and everything in between the cultural spectrum to keep its inhabitants on a slightly higher level of consciousness or pretendace for some.
Architecture ranging from City’s skyline to British Museum’s noble building and everything in between..
Food catered for vegans and carnivores; from national disaster - fish and chips served on a piece of newspaper to tiny portions of fusion cuisine that everyone is yet to understand. Nightlife – well, lets be honest – this one especially, but I won’t elaborate for some reason…
List goes on.. Name and have it in London.
Economic gloom however, and the said “never-have-happened” summer, have put a dark curtain over London’s prominence.
Moving to the other part of the world, Hong Kong has a set of attributes it can’t be contested with.
Location, location and once again location. Feng Shui fantastic, with mountains and sea, city and parks, summer and winter weather with a big emphasis on the former one.
Economic centre of Asia can be escaped within matter of minutes from Hong Kong island to mainland New Territories, where trekking trails multiply themselves, roar of the engines swaps for flow of the waterfall and loud mobile conversations switch to bird singing. Almost like makeover on TV. Natural version though.
Lamma island, where no cars exist and seafood is livelier than any other form of life, Lantau, with its Giant Buddha and a peak with views to die for, beaches, vast national parks or even a stroll through one of the amazing markets provide easy getaway..
Well, not so escaped from the city with the last one, I suppose.
Transport system is second to none – look up to Hong Kong International Airport, Heathrow...
..And cry – although some development has been made, that a light in the Terminal 5 tunnel sparks, no lights are visible in London tube tunnels. Airtight and hot, with no mobile coverage, overpriced and rarely on time, please stand clear of the doors – this train is ready to rumble… Exact opposite of the Asian heavyweight system, where a spacious air-coned area, available in both music and chatter free “quiet car” or technologically advanced, mobile-ready carriage and extensive structure of clearly signposted exits are served for as little as 25pence depending on a distance.
Sounds unfamiliar, Transport for London?
But however long You’d like to compare them, there’s no point in fighting really, because both are fantastic cities.
And as much as love London..
..Put hands up for Hong Kong..

I Love this City!

Selamat Tahun Baru 2009!

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas....
No, I'm not. Not anymore at least. And neither I dream of a white New Years Eve.
Poor You, who've been told, that this festive period can't be complete without snow powdering calmly from ths skies.. You shall believe it as long, as You believe in Santa, Easter bunny (not the Playboy version) and the four-leaf clover excluding Guiness shamrock of course!
Well, O.K. - it's still an option.. and hats off to all of You, who braved the hail, snow, rain, wind, below zero temperatures, mothers-in-law and other unforeseen circumstances to come out to greet New Year on its dawn. I however, who was always first one to get out in this bum-freezin' nite, have celebrated it to a slightly different tune this time.
How so?
I have simply not been cold. :)
I've been watching fireworks in 21C heat from the prime (forbidden at the time) location in Kuala Lumpur.
Petronas Twin Tower Fountain Park being closed, creates a great opportunity to trespass it of course. An opportunity not to be missed!
Even the guard, who has spotted shadows playing in the closed area of the gardens was somehow nice and let off... How inadequate for all these people looking from behind the fences..
One's loss is someone else's gain. Erm, would that be me this time?
This must be the start to a good year!
..which I'd like to wish to all of You!
2008 is dead. 365 days (long) live the 2009!
Selamat Tehan Baru - Happy New Year!